The story takes place between the 12th and 14th centuries, just as today, corruption for political and commercial power raged in the fledgling cities of Italy. In this period of splendor, the protagonists of four short tales are involved in a myriad of intrigues.
The first story’s title is the original Latin name of the medieval town where the events take place, Grata Aura. A young woman secretly catches sight of a handsome young man who has come to her father to negotiate a marriage pact. It is love at first sight. However, she soon discovers he is not there on his own behalf, but that of his brother, an old man well known to be ugly and vicious. Meanwhile, two homicides disrupt the castle and the lives of the two young lovers. The famous Italian poet, Dante Alighieri, first told their story, albeit in a very different way.
The second tale, even more intriguing, "Revenge gets served up cold" features the beautiful Angelica and the famous Venetian explorer, Marco Polo. Their story… is unique!
The protagonist of the third story is Thomas Aquinas, perhaps poisoned by order of Charles I of Anjou. The reason? He knew the truth about the origin of human beings. The story, which begins at the dawn of civilization, alternates between the year 2005 and the year 1270 and involves a journey through time of manuscripts that speak of a mysterious code of life.
Slavery is the theme of the final story. Lucilla Capeleti, born to parents who had given up hope of having children, is kidnapped and made a slave. She's hidden in a cart and transported first to a miserable castle cell, and then to Rome where her blackest hell begins. Finally, after months of suffering and humiliation, she regains her freedom, but with it, the terrible discovery of the truth behind her kidnapping.
"Medioevo in Giallo" was translated into English by Giulia Normand.
Author Bio
Marcella Nardi was born in the charming medieval town of Castelfranco Veneto (Northern Italy). She graduated with a degree in Computer Science, a field in which she worked for twenty-two years between Segrate and Milan (Italy). In 2008, she moved to Seattle, USA.
Her passions include ancient and medieval history, photography, travel and, of course, writing.
As a lover of detective novels and Middle Ages, Marcella won third prize in the 2011 contest “Philobiblon – Premio letterario Italia Medievale” (Philobiblon – Medieval Italy, literary award). The winning story was one of the four featured in this book.
In December 2014 Marcella won first prize in the contest "Italia Mia” (“My Italy"), organized by the Italian “National Association of the book, Science and Research”, with a story set in Gradara.
For a year now, Marcella Nardi collaborates monthly with the Italian Digital Magazine, “Questo Mese Idee” (Ideas for this month).
The original Italian title of “DNA Code & Other Mysterious Tales from the Middle Ages” is "Medioevo in Giallo." In Italian Giallo means two things: the yellow color and thriller. Between the two World Wars, a big Italian publishing company started to sell thrillers on books having a yellow color as the background cover. Since then, Italians use the word Giallo as in English people use the Thriller.
For more information, see Marcella’s press kit.
Marcella Nardi’s Medioevo in Giallo Now Available
in English
The popular Italian novelist titles new translation "DNA Code & Other Mysterious Tales from the Middle Ages"
by PR for People Team